The year 1987 holds a truly sacred place within the history of U.S. muscle car lore, largely thanks to the concluding manufacturing year for Buick's legendary rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. It was a time which saw the culmination of a a surprising turbocharged revival, establishing a distinct distinct hierarchy of which spanned from understated performers all the way to an uncompromising asphalt slayer. While these vehicles all were based upon a common foundational architecture, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, and the GNX each possessed a completely distinct character, set of performance metrics, a unique target buyer. Understanding their subtle sometimes not-so-subtle distinctions remains essential to truly grasping the genius behind Buick's final performance hurrah of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the base of this performance ladder were the more surprisingly versatile and often overlooked models: the Regal Limited with the turbo engine as well as the purposeful Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented package, replete with cushy seating, ample brightwork accents, a a more softer suspension. Crucially, in 1987, savvy customers could quietly option this luxurious plush coupe with the potent LC2 3.8-liter V6 turbocharged engine, effectively birthing a wolf in luxury attire. This combination allowed for a a stealthy high-performance experience without the aggressive obviously aggressive visuals of its blacked-out siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, often known its its WE4 RPO code designation, was a more purpose-built philosophy to stripped-down performance. Buick designed the WE4 T as a lighter counterpart to the Grand National, attaining this by employing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model stood in direct contrast the the Grand National, keeping much of the standard chrome trim and being offered in a spectrum factory body colors. This variant was essentially the enthusiast's selection those individuals that prioritized unfiltered acceleration a a slightly more responsive chassis above the unmistakable style presence of more famous more famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most enthusiasts envision a 1980s Buick performance car, the vision that immediately comes to mind is undoubtedly that of the menacing Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Production Option, the '87 Grand National was not so much a mechanically mechanically separate vehicle but rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing appearance and trim package. This model utilized the exact same potent LC2 intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R automatic transmission found in the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable characteristic was its its monochromatic Darth Vader exterior scheme, a look that earned the car the famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing aesthetic was meticulously carefully applied throughout the entire vehicle. Every piece of the exterior trim, including the window frames and the grille, was finished blacked-out. The car rode upon specific fifteen-inch steel chrome rims a a black center section, lending a truly distinctive appearance. Inside, the Grand National came with a two-tone black and gray cloth upholstery, the addition of the signature turbo six logo embroidered on the front front headrests. The model also was standard the the firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension, a feature that provided the vehicle sharper road manners in order to match its straight-line performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
While the Grand National was the king king of the street, the GNX Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor pinnacle of American domestic performance cars of 1987. Created as a final farewell for the Regal chassis, General Motors shipped only 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies a a comprehensive re-engineering. The goal was simple simple: to create the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The resulting outcome was a machine which was so so fast it could could beat most of the world's era's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The modifications were both comprehensive and very effective. ASC/McLaren installed a more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a more higher-capacity effective intercooler, a a custom programmed engine management chip (ECU). The transmission transmission was recalibrated for quicker gear changes, critically most importantly, the entire rear axle setup was completely re-engineered. It get more info featured a unique longitudinal ladder arm a a transverse Panhard rod, a system that drastically increased traction virtually completely cured wheel hop under brutal launches. Truly appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep thorough dive of the bespoke engineering that ASC/McLaren invested into this extremely limited-production model.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When directly analyzing these four four distinct models, the differences distinctions in performance figures and features are made all the more more apparent. Officially, the LC2 engine found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively understatedly rated at 245 hp and three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. In stark comparison, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive modifications, was officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six horsepower and a staggering staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, though real-world dyno readings have since consistently shown these numbers to be wildly underestimated, with actual output being far over 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy progression was equally just as defined. The Turbo T the Limited were the sleepers of the group, frequently sporting chrome bumpers and offered a a wide range of colors. The Grand National, of course, was exclusively black, creating an unmistakable aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark dark persona a step further. It was fitted with composite fender flares, working heat-releasing vents in the front fenders, a set of a set of sixteen-inch black mesh rims which distinguished the car apart immediately even from a standard a Grand National. Options like removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited, Turbo National, and models, however, no GNX was ever produced the T-top this feature, in order to maintain maximum structural stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In concluding analysis, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal range represents a masterful case study in market segmentation and performance evolution. From the surprisingly surprisingly fast and comfortable Regal Limited Turbo to the lightweight agile Turbo T, Buick offered a spectrum of forced-induction performance to suit suit different tastes and budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this power with an iconic unforgettable a menacing intimidating style package, creating a cultural cultural phenomenon which endures even this very day. At the very top of it hierarchy stood the GNX, a limited-edition rare masterpiece which served as a definitive exclamation mark, solidifying the G-body Regal's status in the pantheon of automotive legends. Each model car was special special in its own way, yet together they formed a legendary unforgettable hierarchy which defined domestic performance for a generation.